Japanese Library on Roosevelt Island

The spirit of multiculturalism is alive and well in Roosevelt Island. The first-ever Japanese language lending library was launched recently by attorney, activist and city council candidate Ben Kallos. It will be housed in the Roosevelt Island Public Library, and will include novels, periodicals, and other Japanese language materials.

The lending library comes at the request of the head of the Roosevelt Island Japanese Association, who sought a Japanese-language library for those residents fluent in Japanese and as a source of cultural enrichment.

Asian residents currently make up about 40 percent of Roosevelt Island's population.